Today on Rappler.
- Monsoon rains affect over 230,000 families in Central Luzon, part of more than 2 million Filipinos whose lives are disrupted.
- Experts say the deadly floods in Metro Manila are a man-made disaster.
- BMX biker Daniel Caluag is the last Filipino standing in the London Olympics.
It’s been an unprecedented two days for the Philippines.
More than a month’s rainfall dumped in 48 hours over the capital and surrounding areas turning it into a ‘water world’ – in the words of the official in charge of handling the crisis.
More than 2 million people are affected.
Nearly 315,000 forced to evacuate to makeshift shelters, according to the Department of Social Welfare & Development.
Story 1: PAMPANGA HIT HARD BY MONSOON
The ricefields of Central Luzon is now a sea of muddy water.
A dike breach in Bacolor Pampanga submerge nearby towns Candaba and Santo Tomas.
Natashya Gutierrez reports.
This is Candaba Pampanga.
Except for the rain, it is eerily silent.
Everything is at a standstill a day after the first monsoon rains ravage the town.
Going further into Pampanga, is Santo Tomas town.
Floodwaters from other towns flow to Santo Tomas after the tail dike in Bacolor exploded.
The deluge catches people off guard and submerge most houses.
Some of the Santo Tomas townspeople went to Bacolor to help plug the dike.
Residents tried to prevent the water from coming in with sandbags but the dike exploded and after 2 and a half hours, this is the result.
Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo says this is the worst flooding they’ve seen in years, worse than Ondoy in 2009.
JERRY PELAYO, CANDABA MAYOR: Napakagrabe ng situwasyon natin dito, sapagkat kahapon nabigla sila. Pumutok yung tail dike, yung tail dike na yan nanggaling yung tubig galing pa sa Porak yan…. Ang problema dito, walang kuryente, wala stock na pagkain sa evacuation center.
According to government reports, at least 6 are dead in Pampanga, one of the hardest hit areas.
Santo Tomas resident Jessie Ortega says he is used to rain in his hometown.
But he says this is different.
Despite his feeling of doom, Ortega leaves his house and braves the floods to find his children a meal.
Many are hungry, waiting for rescue.
Victims ask for relief– food, clothing and medicine.
Roads are impassable making the town harder to reach.
Residents estimate it will take at least a week before the water disappears.
Ortega knows this will happen again, but his immediate concern isn’t the dike, but food for his family.
Natashya Gutierrez, Rappler, Manila.
Story 2: MONSOON RAIN AFFECTS 230K FAMILIES IN CENTRAL LUZON
Central Luzon, a catch basin for rainfall and water released from dams is now the focus of government rescue operations.
The defense department says the monsoon rains affect over 230,000 families.
The Philippine News Agency reports 11 killed and 4 others missing.
NDRRMC says 7 of the victims drowned.
Three were electrocuted and one suffered a heart attack.
In Metro Manila, experts say the deadly floods are less a natural disaster and more the result of poor planning, lax enforcement and political self-interest.
Damaged watersheds, massive informal settlers living in danger zones and the neglect of drainage systems make the city of 15 million people more vulnerable to floods.
Urban planner Nathaniel Einsiedel says the Philippines has enough technical know-how and could find the necessary financing to solve the problem, but there’s no vision nor political will.
He says, “It’s a lack of appreciation for the benefits of long-term plans.”
He adds, “I haven’t heard of a local government…that has a comprehensive drainage masterplan.”
Architect Paulo Alcazaren says solutions to flooding must not be dependent on political boundaries.
He adds, “It will cost billions of pesos but we lose billions anyway every time it floods.”
Story 3: NO MORE RAINFALL WARNINGS OVER METRO MANILA
State weather bureau Pagasa ends rainfall warnings over Metro Manila at 12:20 p.m. Thursday.
Pagasa records “light to moderate rainfall” over the metro for the past 2 hours.
The alert signals had been erratic throughout Wednesday and early morning Thursday.
A red rainfall alert was raised 4:30 p.m. Wednesday when torrential rain was reported over parts of Metro Manila.
The alert was down to yellow by 3.30am Thursday.
Despite the removal of rainfall warnings over Metro Manila, some local government units, private schools and universities suspend classes for Friday, August 10.
Log in to Rappler.com for updates on suspension of classes.
Story 4: AQUINO TO EVACUEES: WE WON’T ABANDON YOU
President Benigno Aquino III visits evacuees in flood-stricken areas of Metro Manila, promising the government will not abandon them.
Aquino makes the rounds in Marikina, Quezon City, Caloocan, and Valenzuela today.
He first visits Nangka Elementary School in Marikina, which holds 7,000 evacuees.
In a brief speech, Aquino says “We will not abandon you. None of you will be left behind.”
He says the government will exert all efforts to reduce flooding in the future.
In his visit to Quezon City, the President says he directed the Department of Public Works and Highways to find a permanent solution to the perennial problem of flooding.
DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson says the proposal is to create catch basins at the upstream portions of the Marikina River.
He says this will allow drainage systems to work efficiently.
Story 5: THE MAN WHO LOST IT ALL IN THE RAIN
Wednesday we gave you a glimpse of a family government tried to relocate in 2003 because their home was built on land vulnerable to landslides.
Patricia Evangelista shows us the family’s struggles, torn between grief and the need to survive.
Jepjep is the eldest in a family of nine. He lived with his mother and six siblings and his father Jessie, a driver.
JESSIE BAYLON, FAMILY DRIVER: Si Jep second year college, engineering. 25 na siya sa December.
Jessie Baylon built his house fifteen years ago on a small hill in
Barangay Commonwealth, Fairview, Quezon City.
On the morning of the storm that paralyzed Manila, Jessie left home for work at six in the morning.
He was in a jeep at seven thirty when a neighbor called him. He was told to come home.
JESSIE BAYLON, FAMILY DRIVER: Tumawag sakin ang sabi pre, bumalik ka, may nangyare, bumalik ka kaagad. So ang ginawa ko bumaba ako ng jeep, sumakay ako ng cab pabalik sa amin, parang meron akong kaba sa dibdib na may hindi magandang nangyari sa amin. Talagang kasagsagan ng ulan malakas ang bagsak ng ulan. Tumatakbo ako pababa. Pagdating ko sa bahay namin marami nang tao sa paligid at may nagsabing Jes, naguhuan ang bahay niyo, nanjan pamilya mo sa ilalim. Sumigaw ako ng, ‘May buhay pa ba sa inyo jan? Ang sagot ni Jep, ‘Pa andito ako naipit dahan dahan.’
Jessie pulled Jep out himself. He saw his second son Jethro inside the rubble of the house.
JESSIE BAYLON, FAMILY DRIVER: Nakausli yung paa, nangingitim na, alam kong wala na pero nilabas namin.
The rescuers kept coming, and Jessie kept digging.
JESSIE BAYLON, FAMILY DRIVER: Yun na, kalkal kami ng kalkal buong hapon hangang makuha silang lahat na kids.
Eight died– five, his children and three, his grandchildren.
His wife was found alive, but passed away later that night in the hospital.
Aside from Jepjep, another daughter survived. She was on her way to school when the house caved in.
JESSIE BAYLON, FAMILY DRIVER: Si Jep nag-sorry, sana may nagawa siya. Tulog siya nun, tapos nagising siya sa dilim.
He does not know where the hospital money will come from, but Jessie will save this one son. Later he will bury his dead.
JESSIE BAYLON, FAMILY DRIVER: Siguro paminsan-minsan sumasagi sa isip ko na hindi ko matanggap. Sariwang sariwa nakikita ko yung nangyayari sa hinuhugot hinuhukay, nangyari sa bahay namin. Sariwa. Ayaw ko makita lugar namin.
Patricia Evangelista, Rappler, Quezon City.
Story 6: POOR HELPING THE POOR
After 9 days of rain, a family seeking refuge finds hope from a poor man offering his home.
Paterno Esmaquel reports.
Marikina resident Julie Araja sees the city as a cold uncaring place– she didn’t expect to find help here or anywhere.
When the nearby Tumana River rose due to continuous rain, it was a poor family that sheltered her along with her 6 children.
JULIE ARAJA, MARIKINA RESIDENT: ‘Yung mga bata nga, naglolokohan eh, yung mga malalaking bahay diyan: “Katok tayo sa malalaking bahay.” “Ano ka, kung gusto niyang tumulong, lalabas iyang sila. Iyon nga, yung tagarito ang nag-offer sa amin. Siguro yung kapwa mo, pareho ang sitwasyon.
The man who opened his doors to them is Allan Mateo.
He lives in Sitio Payong, a poor village in the middle of posh enclaves like La Vista and Loyola Grand Villas.
His house is a not mansion… but is big enough to help strangers shivering in the rain.
ALLAN MATEO, SITIO PAYONG RESIDENT: Noong nakita ko talaga sila, naawa ako sa mga bata, dahil mga giniginaw yung bata, walang damit, basa sila.
Mateo is active in church, and considers it a duty to help others despite his own poverty.
ALLAN MATEO, SITIO PAYONG RESIDENT: Hindi ko na inisip yon eh, na mahirap na nga, tutulong pa sa iba. Kahit mahirap, hindi ko na inisip yung gano’n. Tutal pare-pareho naman tayong mahihirap, eh di magtulungan na lang din kung anong meron diyan.
Like the family he entertained, up to 260,000 persons remain displaced by the monsoon rain that flooded Metro Manila for over three days.
Thousands of volunteers also come to their aid, like 12,000 Bilibid inmates who skipped a meal to donate food to flood victims.
While tragedy hits both the rich and poor, bayanihan, or the spirit of community, knows no class.
Paterno Esmaquel, Rappler, Manila
Story 7: PROPOSED 2013 BUDGET FUNDS ‘RESPONSIBLE PARENTHOOD’
President Aquino is not waiting for Congressional action on the pending Reproductive Health bill.
In the proposed 2013 national budget, he allocates 2.54 billion pesos for his “family health and responsible parenting” program.
House Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III says the funding is included in the 56 billion peso budget of the Department of Health next year.
He clarifies the allocation is “not…connected with the aggressive push for the ‘RH bill‘ in Congress.”
Malacañang submitted its budget for approval to Congress in July.
Story 8: 3 SOLDIERS KILLED, 10 HURT IN MARAWI ATTACK
Alleged members of a drug syndicate ambush soldiers patrolling in Mindanao State University in Marawi City Wednesday.
Three soldiers are killed and 10 wounded in the attack.
School authorities say at least 20 students are hurt in the crossfire.
Col. Daniel Lucero of the Army’s 103rd Brigade says the soldiers were responding to shots at the campus when they were ambushed.
In Maguindanao Sunday night, the Army suffered attacks from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
The attacks spawn rumors of all-out war in Mindanao.
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao acting governor Mujiv Hataman asks the public to double check facts before spreading news on social media.
Story 9: MVP: HUGE PROFIT IMPACT FROM PHILEX MINE CLOSURE
Philex Mining Corp says the closure of its copper-gold mine in Benguet will “impact” its full-year earnings.
In a statement, the company says it expects to lose P220 million for every month that the Padcal mine remains closed.
Philex chairman Manuel Pangilinan says experts estimate operations would be suspended for 5 months.
On August 1, the government ordered the Padcal mine closed after waste leaked from its tailings pond.
The spill was contained on August 4.
Philex is also facing fines for the waste leak and clean-up costs.
Story 10: THE wRap: YOUR WORLD IN ONE READ
At number 5, ‘Amazing! Never happened in my life!’ – that’s how a 23 year old security guard describes the snow which fell in South Africa on Aug. 7 — enough snow to close several border crossings and the main highway linking Johannesburg to Durban, Africa’s busiest port, for several hours.
At number 6, an expanding drought across the central United States and no wonder.
A July heat wave wilted crops, dried up rivers and fuelled wildfires. Now it goes into the records as the hottest single month the continental US has ever had, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA.
The average temperature was 77.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 25.33 degrees Celsius.
2012 is turning out to be the hottest of any year on record, adds NOAA.
And at number 9, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says it’s time to start planning for ‘the day after’ the fall of the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Clinton says, “the intensity of the fighting in Aleppo, the defections, really point out how imperative it is that we come together and work towards a good transition plan.” to prevent sectarian violence.
She’s scheduled to hold emergency talks on Syria this weekend.
Story 11: TEAM PHILIPPINES: ONE ATHLETE LEFT IN OLYMPICS
Only one athlete is left carrying the Philippine flag at the London Olympics.
Still in the running is BMX biker Daniel Caluag who will compete in the 3rd heat of the quarterfinals Thursday at 10pm Manila time.
Of the 4 heats, only the best two bikers per heat advance to the semi-finals.
The Philippines’ long jumper Marestella Torres is out after a dismal performance that saw her jump significantly less than her personal best.
Runner Rene Herrera finished last in the qualification round at the 42nd spot, ending his Olympic bid.
Story 12: AUSTRALIA HITS FACEBOOK OVER ‘RACIST PAGE’
Australian Communications Minister Stephen Conroy hits Facebook for failing to immediately take down a ‘racist page.’
The page stereotypes Aboriginal people as hopeless petrol-sniffing drunks.
An online petition against the page gets nearly 18,000 supporters Thursday.
In a statement to an Australian newspaper, Facebook reportedly says: “We don’t have anything to share on this but if that changes, we’ll let you know.”
– Rappler.com
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